21 days

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

I always heard it takes 3 weeks to break a habit. Today marks my 22nd day without eating ice. I wasn't an ordinary ice eater. No, this one got a little weird. My husband said my habit was getting very methodical. It was. Always making two cups at a time. That way, the second cup was always perfect when I got to it. Nice and soft. Always eating them with a spoon. I only ate white ice, not clear. The clear is way to hard. I knew which friends had the "good" ice. Always taking my "to go" cup from their house. I was up to 8-10 cups of ice a day. I ate ice while on the tread mill. I can't believe I didn't choke. My favorite place to eat ice was the shower. This totally grossed my husband out and probably you too. I found that the humidity from the shower softened my ice quicker and I didn't get cold.

Anyhow, for months now, I was waking up with a sore jaw. I started wondering, how long could this go on? Could I really keep this up for much longer? What was I doing to my poor teeth?

While in Florida during my computer free time, I popped on to read my sisters post. I then clicked onto her comments, saw a catchy blog name, and clicked onto that. Read this, and it was that moment, then and there, I decided that I too had to take care of myself. Believe me, it hasn't been easy. ( It was all I could do to not eat that glass of ice while photographing it. It was the perfect softness.) I do know, that my teeth, and the people around me are much happier.

Blogging really is amazing. If you think about it, you are always just a click away from being motivated or inspired. Thanks Hillary and everyone else for being just a click away.**I had heard that since I was craving ice, I could be anemic. I had blood work done last week, and all levels were fine.

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Wow, I've never heard of anyone being addicted to eating ice, well done on going 22 days, I hope it continues for you. School starts back next week and I aim to get to the gym again 3 times a week, I am in my early 40's and don't want to feel too old by the time I hit 50! I love how the internet can inspire and motivate you every day.Have a super day. I will finally update my knitting blog today! Pop on over when you get the chance (but not in the next 10 minutes) ;-)

OMG....this had me cracking up! I am a total ice eater too but I have to say not to the extent that you are. As far as the methodical part! I had to cut down on ice eating also because of my jaw so I only allow myself 1-2 cups of ice eating a day. I wondered about the anemic thing too but I haven't had my levels checked yet. I should. I honestly have never met anyone else that is addicted to eating ice (except for my brother!).

Is this an addiction? What about crushed ice, it would be much easier on your jaw. I wish you luck in your first month in ice-o-holics not-so-anonymous. I can only remember two other times in my life where I had to have certain foods. Not sure ice is a food. Is water in solid form automatically a food? You have clearly raised a lot of questions for me.

I hear you on the taking care of yourself bit. I am aiming to start a rigorous workout routine starting in October called Personal Best. Not sure about their cleansing diet?! but I would like to find out what my arms and legs were meant to look like. I aim to be fitter at 30 than I was at 20.

You are totally saving your jaw joints. Having had by jaw broken and reset (I surgery that "chronic ice eater" often end up having because of wearing out their jaw joints), trust me, your jaw joints are totally happy right now!

i have to click on the links. i'm a HUGE ice chewer. i've heard that it's link to anemia but that hasn't stopped me. my knit group makes fun of me at Panera when i get a cup full of ice and they mention the "lack of sex" theory. i'm glad i'm not alone and one day maybe i'll stop chewing too.

I am not even sure how I found your blog, but I truly enjoy it. I am a *very* beginning knitter yet like to fantasize that someday I will create the type of things I see on your blog. (all while cursing my unruly double pointed needles!). So, thanks for sharing knitting and otherwise and good luck with the whole ice thing

Leslie, glad you mentioned that because you're not alone. I chew on ice all the time but I like mine crushed a bit. I even bring a big cup filled with ice when going out, just in case I need it. I have never really considered any particular reason for doing it. But am glad that you're finding a way out of it. We don't want broken jaws and all else bad associated with it! So, good luck for every day that you get through!

You have just inspired me to get back on my regular excercise schedule of running at least 2-3 times a week starting next week when school starts. No more excuses.

Interesting habit. I used to twirl my hair and chew the inside of my mouth. It drove my husband crazy, but I found it very satisfying. I started knitting again (after years of not knitting), and the habits disappeared, replaced, I'm sure, by the incessant knitting--which also drives my husband crazy.

this post is making me giggle! ice eating in the shower! too funny! and you really had the whole thing down to a precise science...i love it! i agree 100% about the internet...it is a crazy crazy place but i love how it is connecting people we never would have connected with before and it is all so inspiring and so human!

Wow. Never heard of this ice addiction, but hey glad you are breaking the habit - it can't be good on your teeth? It's very hard to break habits. I know my will-power isn't where I'd like it to be. I hear Hillary, I don't work out worth a lick any more and I'm going to change that. Today I actually started, spent my lunch hour on the treadmill. 30 mintues, broke a sweat, I can do this!

Gee, Les, I didn't know you liked chewing ice to that extent...in the shower....hilarious! I know exactly what you mean about white ice and waiting just a bit until it's a bit soft. Congrats on kicking the habit...I'm sure your TMJs are very happy happy.

Good for you. It is really hard to stop any habit whatever it is. The net is such a cool place - especially all the blogs out there. whenever I'm feeling down or non-motivated, it's one of the places I turn for some good pick me ups!

everyone else has already congratulated you on ceasing your ice eating, and i congratulate you too, but i'm posting more to say that you, leslie, are MY inspiration in many ways. i have never met you, but i l.o.v.e to check your blog and see what you've made for your kids -- whether it's an afternoon snack or socks -- or what you're knitting for yourself.

the internet is an amazing way to thread together so many people in so many ways. the world feels so much smaller and yet so much bigger at the same time.

When I was pregnant with my last baby I had a very similar ice habit!! I thought it was jut a quirky pregnancy thing and my husband and I were joking around about it in the delivery room. It turns out it's some sort of mineral deficiency! And--get this--it gets so bad for some women (in cultures where they are dangerously lacking in nutrients), that they actually can't stop themselves from chewing rocks!! That was all I had to hear! But the craving definitely subsided after I delivered. Just wanted to make sure you knew it wasn't just a silly thing, and you're smart to take care. Best of luck--22 days--sounds like you're almost there.

Not sure if this has been mentioned. Have you had your blood levels checked? I, too, was a big time ice eater. Come to find out, I was anemic. Doctor told me that people with low iron levels tend to eat ice. I don't remember why. But, now years later, and good blood levels, I don't find myself eating ice any longer!

My grandmother gets after my mom for crunching ice - drives her nuts! I LOVE ice but only to make drinks extra cold. I never heard of someone addicted to ice - I'd think there were worse things but if it's hurting your jaw, ouch! Hope the withdrawl goes ok for you, seriously - it's hard to break something you enjoy. I'm a diet coke junkie and I'm trying to wean off that, well, drink less, and it's tough! Good luck.Tanya

After seeing your post I decided to confront Daddy-B about his ice habits. I was shocked when he confessed to some of the same things you did! I just thought he'd been annoying me, and didn't realize it ran so much deeper. Congrats on kicking the habit, and thanks for inspiring my husband to do the same.

I don't like ice much even in drinks! But good on you for taking some time out to take care of you. I exercise now so that I will be fit in my 60's and beyond and I have so much more energy after working out.

My husband chews ice and it drives me batty. The funny thing is, he tells my daughter not to chew ice. He says it's because she has sealant on her teeth and he doesn't. Congratulations on conquering your bad habit!

Eating ice is a symptom of anemia. You should consult your doctor. I ate ice and sunflower seeds to the exclusion of just about everything else in the months before I had my hysterectomy. It turned out I was so anemic they almost canceled my surgery. They went ahead with the operation but gave me two pints of blood. The cravings for ice and sunflower seeds stopped immediately.